May 23, 2017

On your next drive across our beautiful countryside, imagine that as many as one out of every five rows of crops are exported. That means corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, pecans, and a diverse array of other agricultural products will eventually nourish someone outside of the borders of our country. Farmers and ranchers depend on international trade for their livelihood. But it doesn’t stop there. From rural communities to urban areas, small businesses that transform agriculture’s bounty into products that are sold around the globe also depend on export markets overseas.

That is why the Market Access Program (MAP), which helps our farmers, ranchers, and small businesses make inroads into the global marketplace, is so important.

The return on investment from MAP for the American taxpayer dollar is huge: $24 are earned for every $1 invested in foreign market development. As Congress begins debating the next Farm Bill, ...

NASDA, together with USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), opened the American Food Fair at the National Restaurant Show at McCormick Place in Chicago on Saturday. The American Food Fair, featuring more than 90 small to large American food and beverage companies, will end today at 3:00 PM. NASDA has been organizing the pavilion in cooperation with USDA FAS for 16 years.

“The expansion of export opportunities for U.S. food and beverage producers is vital to the health of our economy,” said NASDA CEO Dr. Barbara P. Glenn. “The international trade partnerships established at this show are critical tools for the economic success of the U.S. food and agriculture sector.

Part of the larger National Restaurant Show, the floor was visited by more than 60,000 foodservice leaders from 50 states and more than 120 countries. The state departments of agriculture from Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin all participated to promote their state’s ...

The National Governors Association (NGA), National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) released the following statement today on states’ priorities for the 2018 Farm Bill:

In order to provide farmers with the resources and support needed to endure these tough economic conditions, National Farmers Union (NFU) and Farmers Union state divisions have compiled resources, organized listening sessions, and initiated a national campaign to raise awareness for the current farm crisis.

“We’re in the midst of a farm crisis,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “Net farm income has been cut in half over the past four years, and other indicators point to intense, ongoing stress within our rural communities. Importantly, there is no foreseeable end to these tough conditions. Farmers, ranchers, and their communities are bracing for very hard times, and Farmers Union is going to be there to help them through it.”

Johnson echoed this sentiment in a letter to NFU members, announcing the start of a campaign to raise awareness for the farm crisis and provide support to family farmers and ranchers. NFU launched a new online resource center ...

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